Ethnic Foods and the Halal Trend

23/02/2017

The term “Halal” is becoming increasingly more common in western countries, even if most people are not exactly sure what it means.

In short, the word “halal “in Arabic, means “permitted” or “lawful.” Halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines. According to these guidelines, Muslims cannot consume the following foods:

Pork or pork by-products

Animals that were dead prior to slaughtering

Animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah

Blood and blood by-products

Alcohol

Carnivorous animals

Birds of prey

Land animals without external ears

These prohibited foods and ingredients are called haram, meaning forbidden in Arabic. If you want learn more about Halal food, we have already written more details in this post What is halal food.

The market trend of Halal food

As consumers demand more transparency in terms of food labeling, halal certification is a topic that’s receiving increasing attention. Growth in trade with the Islamic Middle East and South East Asian markets represent new opportunities for food manufacturers to enter these emerging markets, with halal certification being key for a successful entry.

Analysis of global product launches with a halal-certified claim increased by 24 % in 2014 compared to 2010, according to Innova Market Insights data. Traditionally, while most halal-certified claims are found on product launches tracked in the Middle East and Asia regions, there is evidence of growth (+ 43 %, 2014 vs. 2010) for halal-certified product launches found outside of these regions. Halal certification is widespread for many product types, with leading sub-categories for global product launch activity tracked in 2014 being sweet biscuits/cookies and savory/salty snacks. Further demand for halal certified products should increase worldwide.